The three kinds of special needs plans
| Type | Who can join | How eligibility is checked |
|---|---|---|
| D-SNP (dual eligible) | People with Medicare and Florida Medicaid, including a Medicare Savings Program, as the plan's contract with AHCA allows. | The plan confirms your Medicaid with the state. |
| C-SNP (chronic condition) | People with a severe or disabling chronic condition the plan serves, such as diabetes, chronic heart failure or end-stage renal disease. | Your doctor must confirm the condition. |
| I-SNP (institutional) | People living, or expected to live, 90 days or more in a nursing home or similar facility, or needing that level of care at home. | An assessment of your care needs. |
You still need Part A and Part B and must live in the plan's service area. Counts vary by county: for 2027, Hillsborough County has 72 special needs plans, Miami-Dade {{fl:plans.counties.Miami-Dade.snp:n}} and Monroe 1.
Florida's three kinds of D-SNP
| D-SNP type (2027) | Plans | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| FIDE-SNP (fully integrated) | 3, in 42 counties | Medicare and Medicaid under one company, including Medicaid long-term care. |
| HIDE-SNP (highly integrated) | 60, in all 67 counties | Medicare plus some Medicaid benefits, such as behavioral health, under a contract with AHCA. |
| Coordination-only | 64 | Medicare; coordinates with Medicaid. May enroll only people with partial help (QMB, SLMB, QI or QDWI), not full Medicaid. |
Source: CMS CY2027 Landscape file and AHCA's D-SNP contract. In Florida, people with full Medicaid, including those with Medicare, generally get their Medicaid through a Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) plan. PACE, offered by 12 organizations in parts of the state, is another all-in-one option for people 55 and older who need nursing-home-level care. See D-SNPs in Florida and D-SNP vs. Original Medicare and Florida Medicaid.
To compare special needs plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are in Florida for 2027?
Statewide and county counts.
What is a D-SNP in Florida?
Plans for people with Medicare and Medicaid.
What is a FIDE-SNP in Florida?
The plans that carry Medicaid long-term care.
How do I choose a Medicare plan in Florida?
Steps to compare your options.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Special Needs Plans (SNP)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.52, eligibility for special needs plans
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.2, definitions (FIDE and HIDE SNPs)
- CMS — Medicare Advantage Landscape files, contract year 2027 (SNP counts and integration status)
- AHCA — D-SNP contract, Attachment I-B (FIDE, HIDE and coordination-only D-SNPs)
- AHCA — Statewide Medicaid Managed Care
- AHCA — PACE monthly report, September 2026
More questions in this guide
- How many Medicare Advantage plans are in Florida for 2027?
- How do I choose a Medicare plan in Florida?
- Is Medicare Advantage available in every Florida county?
- Why are there so many Medicare Advantage plans in South Florida?
Part of the guide: Medicare Advantage in Florida · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Do special needs plans include drug coverage?
Yes. Every special needs plan must include Part D prescription drug coverage.
What happens if I stop qualifying for my special needs plan?
If the plan expects you to qualify again within 6 months, for example after a Medicaid renewal, it must keep you enrolled for at least 30 days and up to 6 months (42 CFR 422.52(d)). After that, it ends your enrollment and you get a special enrollment period to choose other coverage.
Can I join a D-SNP if I only have a Medicare Savings Program?
Yes, if one is sold in your county. In Florida, coordination-only D-SNPs may enroll people with partial help, such as QMB or SLMB, and only them, not people with full Medicaid. Check each plan's eligibility rules.
Medicare in your Florida county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk · Pasco · Brevard · Volusia · Seminole · Sarasota · Osceola · Manatee · Lake · Marion · Collier · St. Lucie · All 67 counties →
